Special message – TPCH Children's Service 10th anniversary

The Prince Charles Hospital

Staff

Update

Saturday 6 August marks the 10^th anniversary of Children’s Services at The Prince Charles Hospital (TPCH). To celebrate this milestone, TPCH was planning to host a range of events for staff, however due to the current pandemic response, we were regrettably unable to proceed with these activities.

So we wanted to take this opportunity to share with the team at TPCH, some of the Children’s Services key achievements and initiatives over the last decade. Since its inception, the Children’s Service has provided an increasing level of service to the children and families of Brisbane’s northern corridor. The service, which includes Children’s Emergency Department (ED); Children’s Ward (including ED Short Stay Unit and Inpatient Paediatric and Surgical); and Children’s Outpatients Department has each year, experienced a constant growth in the number of patients who require care and treatment from our dedicated multidisciplinary team of staff.

As it was the first time TPCH had a general paediatric service, the hospital was presented with a unique opportunity to build a leading edge general paediatric flagship service for Queensland. With the closure of the Royal Children’s Hospital in 2013 and the subsequent opening of the Queensland Children’s Hospital (QCH) in South Brisbane, it was recognised that TPCH was the ideal location to host a dedicated children’s service to support the burgeoning community of Brisbane’s northern region.

Since opening, TPCH Children’s Service has performed well above expectation, today boasting the second busiest children’s emergency department in southeast Queensland. Here are some of our key achievements and milestones:

DATE	ACHIEVEMENTS
2012	Children’s Service opens (6 August) Official naming of the Diamond Jubilee Children’s Ward (November) RACP Accreditation for basic paediatric physician training (12 months- General Paediatrics) RACP Accreditation for advanced paediatric physician training (12 months – General Paediatrics and Emergency) ACEM accreditation for Paediatric Emergency Medicine training
2013	*In its first year of operation*: – Children’s Emergency Department sees 17,628 patients – Emergency Department Short Stay Unit records 2,410 admissions – Children’s Ward cares for 800 inpatients – Children’s Outpatients records 2,072 occasions of service University of Queensland site for core paediatric rotation for medical students
2014	Allied Health services in Children’s Outpatients established (Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Dietetics, Psychology, Social Work)
2015	Commencement of in situ simulation program, a multidisciplinary education program focusing on readiness for high acuity presentations within Children’s ED resus area. Development and delivery of Regional Paediatric Emergency Fellowship program (ACEM)
2016	Joint Fracture Clinic with QCH begins Criteria Led Discharge introduced to assist with patient flow and discharge Establishment of dedicated paediatric Social Worker position supporting Children’s Ward and Children’s ED
2017	Surgical scope expanded to 12 years R4CE (Readiness for Children’s Emergency) course developed in house for new medical and nursing staff in Children’s ED
2018	Children’s ED opens a dedicated children’s resus bay (initially 16 hours then 24 hours) Paediatric consultant education program commences
2019	Children’s ED Short Stay Unit records more than 4,000 admissions, a 60% percent increase from its first year of operation Admission and management of young people with eating disorders to Children’s Ward
2020	Clinical debriefing program introduced
2021	TPCH Children’s ED sees 35,924 patients – double its first full year intake. Children’s Ward cares for 1,000 inpatients, an increase of 20% from its first year of operation Children’s Outpatients records 4,239 occasions of service, a 104% percent increase from its first year of operation Blue zone (fast track) model of care and footprint expansion Laceraine procedure for reducing the need for procedural sedation during laceration repair accepted by PROV-ED (Queensland Health body promoting value-based care in EDs), to be disseminated throughout Queensland emergency departments Child and Youth Mental Health Service with psychiatric liaison to ward (weekday service)
2022	New Child Life Therapist role begins Dedicated Paediatric Emergency Medicine training program commences Nurse Led Stretching introduced, a nurse led clinical pathway to improve the timeliness of ventolin delivery to patients in respiratory distress Commencement of extended hours paediatric Social Work service

Opening of the new Children’s Services Building

Official naming of Diamond Jubilee Children’s Ward

Two-year old Fraser McBeth was one was one of first patients to be treated in Children’s ED

Harry Mitchell having his plaster cast removed

Twelve year old Harry Mitchell has his plaster cast removed by Orthopaedic Technician, Scott Coventry in Children’s Outpatients paediatric fracture clinic

Opening of the new Blue Zone (fast track) in Children’s ED

Members of the Children’s Ward team

Members of the Children’s ED team

Members of the Children’s OPD team

We are extremely proud of what the Children’s Service has accomplished over the last decade. As a non-tertiary paediatric service operating within a large tertiary referral adult hospital without the presence of a dedicated children’s hospital, we have successfully built the service to provide an outstanding level of care that minimises the number of transfers to a tertiary facility.

The development of the Children’s Service can be credited to the skills and support of a dynamic multidisciplinary team who are committed to improving the health of children. Each day we witness our staff working together to deliver absolutely amazing care to sick little people who are often very anxious and scared about coming to hospital, and who need extra compassion and attention.

As Directors within the Children’s Service, it is truly an honour and a privilege to work with such a talented, caring and supportive group of professionals. We acknowledge and thank all the present and past staff of the Children’s Service, and the ongoing support of the broader hospital for their valuable contributions to the service.

Watch the special Children’s Service 10th anniversary video.

Best wishes,

Dr David Wood
Clinical Director
Children’s Emergency Department
TPCH

Dr Ben Beckwith
A/Clinical Director Paediatric Services
TPCH

Special message – TPCH Children’s Service 10th anniversary

Saturday 6 August marks the 10th anniversary of Children’s Services at The Prince Charles Hospital (TPCH). To celebrate this milestone, TPCH was planning to host a range of events for staff, however due to the current pandemic response, we were regrettably unable to proceed with these activities.